More virtuous electrical infrastructure for Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport
Reading time: 3 min
ADP Group has commissioned Cegelec Paris Airports to project-manage the electrification of Terminal 3 airside at Paris‑Charles de Gaulle Airport. This large-scale project, with its multiple operational constraints, is part of ADP Group’s roadmap to building a sustainable airport model.
©Gwen Le Bras for ADP Group
ADP Group awarded this project, which launched in 2024 and is due for completion in February 2026, to a consortium of three companies led by Cegelec Paris Airports. The business unit is responsible for the electrical engineering work, and for coordinating the infrastructure and building aspects. “The aim of the project is to decarbonise ground operations by electrifying them 100%,” explains Victor Weschler, Project Manager at Cegelec Paris Airports. “This involves rolling out charging stations for all-electric ground-handling and de-icing machinery, and supplying power to fixed air-handling units to warm or cool the cabins of aircraft on the ground at Paris‑Charles de Gaulle. These units will be installed as close as possible to the aircraft so they less often need to use their auxiliary engines (located at the rear of the aircraft), which consume a lot of kerosene.”
This project is part of ADP Group’s ambitious environmental strategy, which includes a target for Paris‑Charles de Gaulle of net zero emissions* by 2035.
“Designed to make Parisian airport infrastructure safer, more efficient and more sustainable.”
“The electrification of airport operations does increase its electrical power needs considerably,” says Victor Weschler. “The high-voltage distribution had to be completely redesigned, and future needs planned for. The HV and mains-voltage substations were eco-designed to reduce their carbon footprint using SF6-free high-voltage boards along with materials such as low-carbon concrete and renewably produced recycled steel.”
Cegelec Paris Airports has been working on this atypical type of technical project for more than 20 years, and its teams have solid expertise in this area. These projects, with their phasing defined in advance via airport safety impact assessments, are particularly sensitive. The slightest delay could have a major impact on the terminal’s operations.
Cegelec Paris Airports and its partners are working closely with ADP to complete this Terminal 3 airside electrification on time and in accordance with the social, environmental, safety and technical objectives contained in the customer’s strategic roadmap, which is designed to make airport infrastructure safer, more efficient and more sustainable.
Integration and safety: a key challenge
Beside the technical aspects, the electrification of Terminal 3 airside at Paris‑Charles de Gaulle Airport is providing social employment opportunities for people facing exclusion from work. ADP Group joined forces with ViE, the social and professional inclusion organisation created by VINCI in 2011 to support its business units, including Cegelec Paris Airports, and help them strengthen their social responsibility initiatives. ViE is helping with candidate selection and supporting the process for the entire duration of the project.
Employee integration includes instilling a safety culture, which is essential when operating in the restricted-access environment of an airport project.
04/17/2025
* Internal ADP Group emissions
